rush hour

the time, usually twice a day, when the roads are full of traffic and trains are crowded because people are travelling to or from workthe morning/evening rush hourDon’t travel at rush hour/in the rush hour.rush-hour trafficCollocationsDrivingHaving a carhave/​own/(British English)run a carride a motorcycle/​motorbikedrive/​prefer/​use an automatic/​a manual/(North American English,informal) a stick shifthave/​get your car serviced/​fixed/​repairedbuy/​sell a used car/(especially British English) a second-hand cartake/​pass/​fail a (British English) driving test/(both North American English) driver’s test/​road testget/​obtain/​have/​lose/​carry a/​your (British English) driving licence/(North American English) driver’s licenseDrivingput on/​fasten/(North American English)buckle/​wear/​undo your seat belt/​safety beltput/​turn/​leave the key in the ignitionstart the car/​engine(British English)change/(North American English)shift/​put something into gearpress/​put your foot on the brake pedal/​clutch/​acceleratorrelease the clutch/(especially British English) the handbrake/(both North American English) the emergency brake/​the parking brakedrive/​park/​reverse the car(British English)indicate left/​right(especially North American English)signal that you are turning left/​righttake/​miss(British English) the turning/(especially North American English) the turnapply/​hit/​slam on the brake(s)beep/​honk/(especially British English)toot/(British English)sound your hornProblems and accidents a car skids/​crashes (into something)/collides (with something)swerve to avoid an oncoming car/​a pedestriancrash/​lose control of the carhave/​be in/​be killed in/​survive a car crash/​a car accident/(North American English) a car wreck/​a hit-and-runbe run over/​knocked down by a car/​bus/​truckdent/​hit(British English) the bonnet/(North American English) the hoodbreak/​crack/​shatter(British English) the windscreen/(North American English) the windshieldblow/(especially British English)burst/​puncture(British English) a tyre/(North American English) a tireget/​have(British English) a flat tyre/​a flat tire/​a punctureinflate/​change/​fit/​replace/​check a tyre/​tire Traffic and driving regulationsbe caught in/​get stuck in/​sit in a traffic jamcause congestion/​tailbacks/​traffic jams/​gridlockexperience/​face lengthy delaysbeat/​avoid the traffic/​the rush hourbreak/​observe/(North American English)drive the speed limitbe caught on(British English) a speed camerastop somebody for/​pull somebody over for/(British English,informal)be done for speeding(both informal)run/(British English)jump a red light/​the lightsbe arrested for/​charged with(British English) drink-driving/(both US English) driving under the influence (DUI)/driving while intoxicated (DWI)be banned/(British English)disqualified from drivingSee related entries:Motoring problems and accidents,Train and bus travel